Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous and Ethanolic Root Extracts of Cyperus scariosus Their Characterization and Evaluation of their Anthelmintic Activity
Anshika Santosh Gupta
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, Plot No. 50, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai–400614, India.
Ishita Rajesh Naik
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, Plot No. 50, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai–400614, India.
Nihanth Jillawar
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, Plot No. 50, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai–400614, India.
Vaidehi Ganesh Bade
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, Plot No. 50, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai–400614, India.
Yadnya Aniruddha Parvate *
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, Plot No. 50, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai–400614, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Helminthiasis is a widespread disease affecting over a billion people globally. Current treatment measures for helminthiasis rely predominantly on antibiotics; however, growing anthelmintic drug resistance necessitates the inclusion of alternative treatment measures. Thus, this study pursued a sustainable nanotechnology approach through the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous and ethanolic root extracts of Cyperus scariosus.
The extracts were evaluated for their phytochemical profiles and utilised for the synthesis of AgNPs. The synthesised AgNPs were characterised by UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Both plant extracts, the synthesised AgNPs, and the standard drug Albendazole were evaluated for their comparative anthelmintic potential against the earthworms Eisenia fetida.
Phytochemical screening revealed tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, and phenols in the aqueous extract, vis-a-vis alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, and phenols in the ethanolic extract. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed AgNP formation, with surface plasmon resonance peaks obtained at 450 nm for aqueous AgNPs and 416 nm for ethanolic AgNPs. FTIR analysis exhibited eight peaks for aqueous AgNPs and five for ethanolic AgNPs, indicating the presence of varied functional groups. TEM analysis revealed quasi-spherical nanoparticles, with the well-dispersed aqueous AgNPs averaging ~91 nm and the less-dispersed ethanolic AgNPs averaging ~24 nm. FESEM confirmed the surface morphology, and EDX confirmed the silver content of both AgNP preparations, with 47.72 weight % silver in aqueous AgNPs and 34.91 weight % in ethanolic AgNPs. The anthelmintic assay showed potent dose-dependent effects for both aqueous and ethanolic AgNPs, surpassing the respective plant extracts and the standard drug Albendazole.
Thus, Cyperus scariosus root extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) serve as promising biogenic agents for AgNP synthesis, with the synthesised AgNPs showing potent therapeutic potential in anthelmintic applications.
Keywords: Green synthesis, silver nanoparticles, Cyperus scariosus, root extracts, phytochemical screening, UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, FESEM–EDX, anthelmintic activity, Eisenia fetida